Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-29
MARRIED IN HER SLEEP.
9 Toledo Girl Outdoes All Previously
Ranorted Snmnamhulists.

& TOLEDO Girl Outdoes All Previously
Reported Somnambulists.
Abigail Stark, young, prepossessing
girl of the Fifth ward, is a somnambulist,
and most thorough one at that, says the
Toledo Blade. She has been known to
walk a distance of two miles at a stretch
without waking up, and on one occasion
she frightened a sleigh load of people,
who were returning late at night from
party, half out of their wits. 1t was some
time before Miss Abigaips parents learned
Of their daughters popularity, and ever
after they kept close watch of her. Now,
Miss Stark was courted by young man
from the Third ward, John Derby, likely
fellow, but for some reason he and the
old folks could not get along together,
and the upshot of the matter was that he
was denied admission to the Stark man.
sion, proceeding which quite disgusted
the youthful lovers.
But they were not to be outdone 50
easily, and from the time of the estrange-
ment between the young man and the old
folks the girl seemed to take certain
fancy to an aunt who resides in Lower
Town. Strange to say, the coincidence in
time did not manifest itself to the Stark
| elders, and they merely expressed delight
that their daughter should take pleasure
in visiting her amt, who was Mrs. Stark's
favorite sister.
One night, while John and Abigail were
returning from a party, John proposed
that they should get married without fur
ther delay. He said there was no pros
pect Of Abigairs parents ever liking him,
and so long as the climax had to be
reached, he wanted to reach it by the
shortest way. He did not believe in long
courtships. To all of which Abigail re-
Piled that it would be impossible for them
to get married without they eloped, for
her aunt would never sanction their mar
riage unless her parents gave their con.
sent
Lets elopc, them" said John; 81 am
heartily sick and tired of the subterfuge
which we are practicing upon your par
ents. Let US get married, and then if they
do not care to see US, we can live without
them"
Abigail hesitated before taking so i'm
portant step. She wanted time to think
1T over. OF course she expected to marry
him, even if her parents did object but
the proposition was so sudden that she
would ask him to wait until the next
evening for her answer.
81 have already engaged the minister"
said John, as he bade her farewell at the
gate, "and he promises to marry US, if he
has to get out of bed at midnight to do it''
When he had left Abigail he walked
slowly up town, picturing in his mind the
happy home he would have, with Abigail
as its mistress. The bright fire, the cozy
chair, the comfortable slippers, and all
the ct ceteras that go to make up the pict-
ure OF perfect homo came up before
| him. Suddenly it occurred to him that he
had promised to call upon his chum, who
| lived near the aunt's residence, and close
! up business matter of some importance.
Although it was late he knew his chum's
pcnchant for late hours, and therefore had
no scruples.
He retraced his steps, and was about to
ring the bell of his friends house when
he happened to see woman coming up
the street. The figure was so familiar
| that he involuntarily sought the sidewalk
As the figure approached the belief that il
was Abigail became certainty, and ha
hastened forward TO meet her. He was
not aware, so absorbed hal he been in
making family pictures, that one hour had
| passed since he had left Abigail In his
impetuous way he had but one thought
and that was that Abigail had conclude ed
to accept his proposition and had come ou,
in the hope Of overtalking him.
But he was surprised at her silence.
When he spoke to her she answered in
quite as endearing terms as he had used
] n,
| and the two walked rapidly away. He
asked her if she had really decided to
marry him that night, and he was sure
that she said yes. Any way he was SO
overjoyed that he nearly forgot the way
| to the minister's All was dark when he
| got there, but vigorous ringing soon
brought the divine to the front door, John
was not long IN explaining the situation,
and the minister soon had the front room
in order for the couples reception. He
also pressed his wife into service as a wit
ness, and in very brief period the knot
was tied and 10 hn was happy.
! Abigail had answered all questions
properly, and was apparently as happy as
John over the result She had not with
drawn her veil during the ceremony, nor
had John in his raptures thought of ask
ing her to do so. They decided that she
should return to her aunt's house and re-
main there for day or two until tho final
| preparations should be made, when they
should go into their own home.
When John left Abigail for the second
time that night he felt that he no longer
hold the uncertain position of a lover, but
that she was his wife by divine decree
Visions of the perfect home, of the com
Portable slippers, cosy chair and warm
fire followed him home and became q
large part Of his dreams when he dropped
| on. And all the next day they still occu.
pied his thoughts. In the evening he was
at Abigairs side. His first words were
my wife now, in spite of every one"
She looked at him as though she thought
him crazy. "Your wife, JohnF' she cx-
claimed. "But have not accepted your
proposition yet You presume too much,
sir" and she drew herself up in q mock
defiant manner.
"You are a big tease" said John, s'but ]
could scarcely believe my senses"
'What are you talking about joint"
| looking at him seriously.
"Why, our marriage" replied he. also
serious.
at seems to me that did dream some
thing about getting married." said Abb
gail.
Dream about it'll You amaze me. II !
remember Alright, we had all the para
| phernalia for genuine wedding said
John. There was the minister, his wife
as witness, and we two, who were mar.
ried. And here is the certificate, if you
do not believe it," and he drew that
precious docum ent from his pocket.
Abigail was astounded. To think tina,
she had been married without be ing cog.
infant OF 1t, was too much even for her
strong mind, and she was more than hall
inclined to cry. Then the ridiculous feat.
ure occurred to her, and she was for some
time in midair between laughing and cry.
ing. When sh e had calmed down and her
mind became. settled the true status of af-
fairs began to dawn upon her. Hitherto
she had never mentioned to John her
somnambuhstic escapades because she
had been half ashamed of them, but now
that she was married she thought it her
duty TO explain.
She told him all about it, and how on
the night that he had left her at the gate
she had gone to her room, and, being un-
usually tiI ed, had laid down upon the bed
without undressing, and had fallen asleep
The circumstances Of the marriage had
AL come to her as a dream, and when she
arose that morning she had not given the
matter second thought. But now that
he had recalled the marriage, she remem-